Popular Financial Speaking Topics:
Financial aid including student loans, grants and scholarships
Budgeting and paying off debt
The basics of financial literacy
Managing financial behaviors
Why I Love Speaking about Financial Literacy
Unlike other speakers, I know what it’s like to learn about financial literacy the hard way. I immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine when I was four. I watched my parents figure out the American financial system. They shared their mistakes and lessons so I learned first-hand how money worked.
When I graduated from college, I had $28,000 in student loans - and a $28,000 salary. Suddenly, I had to learn how to manage my money by myself. That’s when I decided to pay off my student loans in three years - and to start blogging about it.
And in November 2014 - three years after making my first payment - I made my last student loan payment. A few months later, I quit my job to work as a full-time personal finance writer.
As a speaker, I share my message about financial literacy, whether that means educating high school students about the FAFSA to discussing the importance of compound interest to young adults.
Where I’ve Spoken
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“Zina spoke to our Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications class about student loans. She taught our high school students about various strategies to pay for college. She is extremely knowledgeable about student loans and personal finance. I highly recommend her as a guest speaker for all Financial Literacy classes and FAFSA information sessions.”
“We brought in Zina to support our Financial Literacy class discussions. She was very articulate and easy for students to relate to. She was passionate and attentive. Students were better informed from her contributions.”
“Zina was funny, pragmatic, and so knowledgeable about her subject. Our community talked about her message for days, and all of our students wanted follow-up resources to start learning to manage their own money. They were so much more engaged by Zina’s message than anyone expected. You won’t be disappointed!
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“Zina was a pleasure to work with both prior and during our conference. She was professional, organized and most importantly our attendees enjoyed her session!
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“Zina was fun, genuine, and had the whole crowd laughing and cheering through her talk. She is a talented speaker who quickly connected with the audience and left everyone inspired and wanting more.”
According to a 2025 survey from Key Bank, about 50% of people worry about money. And all of that worrying doesn’t just stay at home. When employees worry about money, it makes them less productive and less able to concentrate on the job.
Helping to educate your employees about personal finance can not only help them, but it can also help you. An employee who is less stressed is more productive, efficient and creative.
Studies show that being stressed can decrease creativity, which is a key aspect for many jobs. If you’re relying on employees to come up with new solutions or innovative products, you need them to be creative.
About Me
When I graduated from college, I had about $24,000 in student loans - and a $28,000 salary. Living on that income was tough, especially since I had a $550 rent payment and gas was $4/gallon.
That’s when I started budgeting. And boy did that teach me how to handle my money. Living on a budget was an experience in trial-and-error. My first budget didn’t work. And neither did my second. It took me several months to learn how to stick to a budget and not overspend.
While this wasn’t my first time budgeting, it was my first time trying to stand on my own two feet. In college, my parents would bail me out if I needed help. But now I had to be an independent adult - living on a low salary with lots of bills to pay.
That’s also when I decided I wanted to pay off my student loans early. I hated being in debt. I felt like I had a debt devil standing over my shoulder, judging me every time I bought something non-essential. I hated that feeling so much I decided to pay off my student loans as soon as possible.
In November 2014, about three years after making my first student loans, I finally paid them off. Paying off my student loans in three years led to my becoming a freelance financial writer. It also inspired me to become a financial coach, working with people directly one-on-one. I would examine their budgets, help determine their goals and work with them to show what changes would have to be made.
And because I had my own experience of paying down debt, they knew I understood the feeling of both being overwhelmed by my finances and then resolving to tackle them. I still use this experience today as a speaker and financial advisor.
Value of Financial Speakers for Companies
When your employees have money concerns, it bleeds into their everyday working lives. Employees who are stressed are more likely to make mistakes, which cost your company in the short and the long term. They lose sleep, eat poorly and don't respond to stress well. In short, they’re not as productive as they could be.
Having a financial speaker can boost morale and help your employees feel more valued at work. For example, if they learn more about the power of investing, they may start contributing to your company’s 401(k). If they contribute more to their 401(k), then they may stay longer because of the vesting schedule.
As a financial advisor, I’m capable of talking to individuals, including students and adults. I have spoken to large and small groups, both virtually and in person. I have given speeches as short as 20 minutes and as long as one hour.
Popular Financial Speaking Topics
When you think about what you learned in school, I can bet personal finance wasn't on the list. And if your parents are like most families, they probably didn't talk to you about money.
It's no surprise then that people grow up not knowing how their paycheck works, how to choose funds in a 401(k) or how to invest for the future.
That’s why hiring a speaker like me can be so useful. Here are some of the main topics I can discuss:
Budgeting
Budgeting is the foundation to all financial planning. You don’t know how much you can save for retirement or buying a house until you know how much you spend.
And while the main rule of budgeting sounds easy - spend less than you earn - it’s surprisingly hard to implement. Budgeting is a skill and like any other skill, you need someone experienced to teach you how it works.
Debt reduction
One of the biggest questions that people have is how to pay off debt. When you’re juggling student loans, credit card bills, car loans and more, it can be hard to know which one to focus on.
Managing your debt is important for anyone, especially if you’re drowning in debt. Studies show that being in debt can cause anxiety and depression. Having someone explain which loan or credit card to focus on or the various debt repayment methods can help them feel more control and create an action plan.
Retirement Planning
Between IRAs ,401(k)s and 403(b)s, sometimes talking about retirement planning feels like a big bowl of alphabet soup - or a jumbled mess.
I can explain the difference between these various accounts and how to understand the main pros and cons of each of them.
Investing 101
Understanding the basics of investing are so crucial to setting yourself up for success. With the power of compound interest, even those with humble incomes can create large nest eggs.
I teach the ins and outs of investing including types of retirement accounts, how to understand types of investment funds, and more. While investing may seem intimidating from the outside, it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Financial psychology
Most people think that being good at money means that being good at math. But you don’t need to master Calculus in order to manage your finances.
One of the most important aspects of personal finance is understanding your own behavior as well as other people's. I can explain why we act the way we do with our money - and how to change your behavior to improve your finances.
Case Studies/Success
For two years, I have given talks to student and early career journalists explaining the basics of personal finance. Here are some testimonials from satisfied clients:
Lisa K. Renze-Rhodes, editor of the Free Press Indiana, said the following:
“For the past two years, Zina has been kind enough to provide invaluable training for a citywide intern cohort, as part of summer training for emerging journalists. She takes complicated concepts and distills them down into easily understood information points, specifically tailored to young people just getting started in industry. She's thorough, but doesn't overwhelm, and she always provides opportunities for questions and individual follow up. Our cohorts routinely list Zina's talk as one of our highest-rated offerings provided, and we're grateful for her willingness to share her expertise.
Andee Simpson, manager of the Orangily stores in Indianapolis said the following:
I met Zina through Indy Maven and recently invited her to speak at Orangily’s Thursday morning series. She made compound interest fun, accessible, and memorable. Zina is polished, funny, and kind: the perfect mix for making finance feel approachable. I look forward to working with Zina again and recommend her to anyone seeking a great speaker or financial advisor!
Jazmin Atzhorn, professor of the University of Indianapolis said the following:
"Zina was a great guest speaker for my Professional Development Seminar class. She came and talked about student loans and financial wellness. She is very knowledgeable and gave students helpful information and answered all of their questions. It was a pleasure to have her speak to our class!"
Why Work With Me
When I was in journalism school, one of the biggest things I learned was how to talk to anyone - and how to write so anyone could understand what I was saying. Newspapers are designed to speak to the everyday person, the layman.
I use that same approach when it comes to speaking. Personal finance can seem complicated, hard to understand and boring. When I talk about financial literacy, I use analogies, metaphors and visual images to make it relatable.
For example, during a talk about compound interest, I used vampires to illustrate the power of saving early and often. Afterwards, one person said, “I have never enjoyed a personal finance talk as much as I have now.”
Call to Action
I’ve spoken for in-person workshops as well as virtual or hybrid ones. I’m happy to tailor my talk to whatever you and your group wants to discuss.
Interested in working together? Send me a note to learn more.
* C.H. Douglas & Gray is a registered investment adviser. Information presented is for educational/informational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.